Schwerpunkt: Fall Gelb and the German Example
Abstract
'Schwerpunkt: Fall Gelb and the German example' is a title chosen with deliberate care. The central argument offered in this paper is that the German concept of Schwerpunkt forms the foundation of Maneuver Warfare theory. Therefore, since Maneuver Warfare is Marine Corps doctrine this concept must be deafly understood and properly employed if Marines are to conduct decisive operations in accordance with our doctrine. This paper will define the key doctrinal concepts of Maneuver Warfare, describe how they interrelate, and examine their historical development in classic German military thought. Furthermore, this author believes that Operation Fall Gelb, the German invasion of France in May 1940, provides an excellent lens through which to view Maneuver Warfare theory and more particularly the concept of Schwerpunkt. A campaign study of Operation Fall Gelb will illustrate how the proper employment of the Schwerpunkt at the strategic, operational, and tactical level of war produces a decisive result. Finally, this paper will examine the doctrinal inconsistencies in Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1, and assess whether Marines understand their doctrine well enough to execute it in the 21st century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA403838
Entities
People
- David J. Furness
Organizations
- Marine Corps University